Winding material expansion device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a winding material expansion device ( 10 ). In the winding material expansion device ( 10 ) a winding material ( 5 ) is guided in a meandering manner between rollers ( 16, 17, 18, 19 ) for guiding and/or expanding the winding material ( 5 ). For simplifying a removal of the winding material ( 5 ) from the winding material expansion device ( 10 ) and/or introducing the winding material ( 5 ) into the winding material expansion device ( 10 ) rollers ( 16, 17 ) are displaceable, in particular pivotable, such that in a removal position of the rollers ( 16, 18 ) the winding material is freely accessible.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to co-pending German Patent ApplicationNo. DE 10 2012 215 772.7 entitled “Spulgut-Spreizeinrichtung”, filedSep. 5, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a winding material expansion device or windingmaterial guide device, a traversing device, a winding machine and amethod for operating a winding machine.

The invention particularly relates to expansion of the winding materialon the supply path thereof to form a coil to be wound. For example, thewinding material is a fibre bundle of any type which is intended to beexpanded before being applied to the outer face of the coil, with itbeing possible for expansion to be intended to form uniformly thick andwide “tapes” of the fibres which are advantageous for the transferand/or the further processing. It is also possible that simple guidingthrough a winding material guide device is intended for so-calledprepreg (pre-impregnated fibres) without further expansion beingintended to take place in this instance. Instead, a width and/orgeometry of the prepreg present is intended to be maintained if possibleand/or particular consideration is intended to be given to the guidingforces applied to the prepreg.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

According to EP 0 459 681 B2, in a winding machine for fibre bundles thecoil may be driven via the spindle or via a pressing roller. It isfurther set out in EP 0 459 681 B2 that, alternatively, the coil or thethread guide may carry out the traversing movement necessary during thewinding. The winding material mentioned in EP 0 459 681 B2 involvesfibre bundles (multi-filaments). In this instance, the fibres arealready expanded in a manner which is not specified in greater detail sothat the winding material is already supplied to the traversing devicein a tape-like state. The fibres are fixed in the expanded position byimpregnation or by being embedded in a matrix, for example, comprisingepoxy resin or non-saturated polyester, so that a tape-like geometry isestablished. EP 0 459 681 B2 describes the use of rollers which aresupported rotatably on a traversing device and the axes of rotation ofwhich are rotated in a horizontal plane successively through a total of90° in order to rotate the extension direction of the tape-like windingmaterial from an extension direction determined by a supply roller to anextension direction which is orientated parallel with the rotating coilor spindle. That rotation may allow the subsequent application of thewinding material to the coil during the winding process. Alternatively,EP 0 459 681 B2 proposes that the winding material be rotated by helicalsliding faces.

EP 1 584 594 B1 discloses a winding machine, in which a plurality ofcoils can be wound in a parallel manner on a plurality of windingstations. The winding material is a fibre bundle, for example,comprising carbon fibres, glass fibres, aramide fibres, inter alia,which may have from 3000 to 24,000 filaments. This may also be aprepreg, an (additional) expansion of the prepreg being able to becarried out by means of a winding material expansion device. EP 1 584594 B1 describes the problem in that a previously expanded, tape-likefibre bundle is acted on in a transverse direction during the use ofknown winding machines with a traversing device which is not adapted tothe fibre bundles, whereby a predetermined shape of the tape-likewinding material is lost and torsion thereof may be brought about. EP 1584 594 B1 proposes a modification of the traversing device in such amanner that an expansion extent of the fibre bundle in the region of thetraversing device is intended to be maintained or even furtherincreased. According to EP 1 584 594 B1, winding material is supplied tothe traversing device from a roller which is supported in a manner fixedto a machine frame and with an axis of rotation which is orientatedparallel with the axis of rotation of the coil. In the region of thetraversing device, the expansion extent is rotated through 90° by meansof a cylindrical roller which is orientated transversely relative to theaxis of rotation of the coil. Subsequently, the winding material reachesthe pressing roller, in the region of which the winding material isapplied to the coil via a conical roller and an additional cylindricalroller. The expansion extent is again rotated back through 90° by meansof the conical roller and the additional cylindrical roller, for whichpurpose the conical roller is orientated at an acute angle relative tothe axis of rotation of the coil and the additional cylindrical rolleris orientated parallel with the axis of rotation of the coil. Additionalinformation relating to filament numbers of the fibre bundles, fibrediameters, roller contours, roller widths and roller thicknesses andfibre materials may be taken from EP 1 584 594 B1.

The publication DE 41 30 809 A1 relates to another technical field, i.e.a textile machine in the form of a carding machine, in which a fibretape is intended to be guided and compacted between a tape formingdevice and a funnel which compacts the fibre tape. A calender rollerpair is arranged downstream of the funnel. DE 41 30 809 A1 describesmeasures for correctly guiding and compacting the fibre tape even athigh supply speeds with the object of preventing the air which ispressed out of the fibre tape during the compaction process in thefunnel from inhibiting the discharge process through the calenderrollers, whereby a breakage of the fibre tape may result.

The publication DE 24 18 234 A1 which is also relates to anothertechnical field describes a tape store for metal tapes.

Additional prior art is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,799 A and JPH10-330 038 A.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide

a device for expanding a winding material and/or guiding a windingmaterial,

a traversing device,

a winding machine and

a method

which is improved with regard to

the guiding and expansion of the winding material,

the forces applied to the winding material,

the conditions relating to structural space,

the introduction of the winding material into the winding materialexpansion device or winding material guide device and/or

the removal of the winding material from the winding material expansiondevice or winding material guide device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the device for guiding and/or expanding thewinding material has at least one first roller and at least one secondroller of any surface contour and orientation of the axes of rotation.Between these rollers the winding material is guided in a meanderingmanner. The term “meandering guiding” is intended to be understood inthat the winding material is wound around at least one of these rollersin a partial peripheral region in the clockwise direction and thewinding material is wound around at least one other roller in a partialperipheral region in a counter-clockwise direction. That meanderingguiding can bring about expansion and/or guiding of the windingmaterial, as also described, for example, in the prior art mentioned inthe introduction.

It is generally intended to keep the spacing of the rollers of thewinding material expansion device or winding material guide device assmall as possible in order to minimise the structural size. However, itis advantageous for introduction and removal of the winding materialinto/out of the winding material expansion device or winding materialguide device if the spacing of the rollers is as large as possible.Consequently, there is an conflict of objectives which apparently cannotbe resolved and which requires individual adaptation in accordance withthe different applications.

That conflict of objectives may be solved in the context of the presentinvention in that at least one first roller does not have an axis ofrotation which is fixed relative to the moved portion of the traversingdevice but instead it is movable. Consequently, the at least one firstroller can be arranged for the meandering guiding between the rollers ina winding position in which the rollers are arranged as close to eachother as desired without the conditions for the removal or introductionof the winding material having to be considered. By at least one firstroller being moved into a removal and/or introduction position, thespacing of the first and second rollers can then be changed, whichallows simplified removal and/or introduction of the winding material.In this instance, the removal and/or introduction position may beselected in such a manner that, for example, although the spacing of therollers is increased, the winding material is still guided between thoserollers in a meandering manner, but with the wrapping angle of thewinding material on the rollers then being able to be reduced. In thisinstance, consequently, a “meandering width” of the meandering guidingof the winding material between the rollers changes. However, theremoval and/or introduction position is preferably constructed in such amanner that the moved first roller(s) is/are moved out of contact withthe winding material, so that the winding material then only contactsthe second rollers or even no longer has to have any further contactwith any roller.

It is possible that the degree of freedom of movement of at least onefirst roller provided according to the invention is also used foradditional or alternative purposes. In order to set out merely anon-limiting example, the guiding and expanding action of the windingmaterial guide device or winding material expansion device can also beadapted by means of the movement of the first roller and therefore thechange in the distance of the first and second rollers, or an adaptationto the respective winding material may be brought about. In thisinstance, the movement of the at least one first roller does not takeplace between operating positions which are in the form of a windingposition and removal and introduction position. Instead, those operatingpositions are then winding positions which are intended for differentoperating modes of the winding machine.

It is possible for the movement between the first and second operatingposition to be brought about manually by an operator. According to anadditional proposal of the invention, an actuator is provided on thewinding material expansion device or winding material guide device. Bymeans of the actuator the movement of the at least one first rollerbetween the two operating positions can be brought about. This actuatormay be controlled as required by a switch being actuated by an operator.However, automatic actuation of the actuator is preferably brought aboutand is adapted to the operation of the winding machine. For thispurpose, the actuator can be controlled by a suitable control unit inaccordance with the operating variables which relate to the windingprocess and/or a changing process.

There are various options for constructing the actuator. In order to setout merely a small number of non-limiting examples, the actuator may beconstructed in an electromotive or hydraulic manner. In a preferredconstruction, the actuator is a pneumatic actuating cylinder. In thisinstance, in some cases it is possible to exploit the fact that apneumatic operating pressure is anyway present at a winding machine orat the winding material expansion device or winding material guidedevice. It is possible to use the pneumatic operating pressure in thepneumatic actuating cylinder without additional complexity having to beinvolved in order to provide the driving energy of the actuator. On theother hand, in some cases the actuation of the actuator can becontrolled or regulated readily by means of a suitable pneumatic controlcircuit, electrically operated valves also being able to be usedtherein.

For an additional proposal of the invention the actuator is built by aturret of the winding machine. This construction makes use of the factthat a rotation of the turret is carried out precisely at the time atwhich a coil is completely wound and the change to an empty spindle(under some circumstances with a sleeve arranged thereon) is carriedout. Under some circumstances, however, it is also desirable to move themovable first roller(s) to the removal or introduction positionprecisely at that time. The turret may be used in this instance simplyto control the movement so that the actuator is controlled in accordancewith the rotation angle of the turret. In a preferred construction ofthe invention, however, the movement of the turret is directly used, forexample, by a stop, a guide rail or an actuation cam of the turret, inorder to bring about the movement of the at least one first rollerbetween the positions thereof.

It is possible for a plurality of first rollers to carry out the samemovement or different movements (with regard to the magnitude and thedirection).

The movement of at least one first roller may be carried out along anylinear or curved movement axis which determines a degree of freedom. Inorder to set out merely one example, the rollers can be moved togetherin translation away from the fixed rollers so that a gap is formedbetween the moved rollers and non-moved rollers. In this instance thewinding material can be introduced and removed in a direction parallelwith the orientation of the rotation axes of the rollers between therollers.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the movement of the atleast one first roller is carried out about a pivot axis which defines apivoting degree of freedom. Under some circumstances, such a pivotingdegree of freedom can be realised in very simple manner, wherein incontrast to a translation movement (for which the moved first rollersoften have to be supported at both sides with a resultant reduction inthe accessibility of the first rollers) it is necessary to link thefirst rollers at a pivot bearing or at a pivot axis only in an endregion of the rollers. Consequently, the other end region of the firstroller(s) may also remain freely accessible. The introduction and/or theremoval may also thereby be simplified. On the other hand, curvedmovements of the first roller(s) is/are possible for a pivot movement inaccordance with the arrangement of the pivot bearing, which may have anadvantageous effect on the structural space. The options for arrangingthe bearing for the movement of the at least one first roller and theactuator may also be extended under some circumstances by using apivoting degree of freedom when compared to differently constructeddegrees of freedom for the movement of the at least one first roller.

Merely by way of example, reference is made to two optional orientationsof the pivot axis of the pivoting degree of freedom:

-   -   For one embodiment of the invention, the pivot axis of the        pivoting degree of freedom is orientated transversely relative        to a conveying direction of the winding material through the        winding material expansion device or winding material guide        device. If the winding material extends approximately vertically        in the winding material expansion device or winding material        guide device, the first rollers can be pivoted out, similarly to        a door, laterally from associated pairs of non-movable second        rollers by means of a pivot axis orientated in such a manner. In        this instance, the pivot angle may be less than 90°, may be 90°        or may even be more than 90°. Such a pivot axis may allow        introduction and/or removal of the winding material to be able        to be carried out not only in the direction of the axes of        rotation of the rollers but also perpendicularly relative        thereto or at an acute angle thereto.    -   For another embodiment according to the invention, the pivot        axis of the pivoting degree of freedom is orientated parallel        with a conveying direction of the winding material through the        winding material expansion device or winding material guide        device.

It is possible for the actuator to be connected directly to the firstroller(s). However, it is also possible that a plurality of actuators isresponsible for different first rollers.

In another embodiment of the invention, a drive mechanism is interposedor located between the actuator and the at least one first roller. Thismay be, for example, a gear type connection, a tappet connection or stemconnection, a toothed rod connection, a spindle drive, a multiple linkchain, inter alia. The reasons for using a drive mechanism may vary. Forexample, by means of the drive mechanism a change of the drive directionbetween the actuator and the first roller(s) may be brought about, astep-up action or a step-down action may be brought about, a drivecharacteristic between the movement of the actuator and the movement ofthe first roller(s) may be provided, a spaced arrangement of theactuator from the first roller(s) may be provided, inter alia.

The present invention also covers that the drive connection between theactuator and first roller(s) permanently exists, that is to say, forexample, also during the winding process of a coil, whilst the actuatoris not actuated. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the drivemechanism is releasable, which may be carried out, for example, in anautomatic manner by means of selective control, movement control ormanually. It is thereby possible for the drive mechanism only to connectthe actuator to the first roller(s) when the actuator actually has to beactuated. In order to set out merely a non-limiting example of theinvention, the traversing device for an imminent change with therequirement of removing the winding material from the winding materialexpansion device or winding material guide device can be moved into atraversing position which forms a changing position in which the drivemechanism connects the actuator to the first roller(s), for example, bymeans of a sliding contact or a positive-locking engagement. If,however, the drive mechanism is intended to be released, the traversingdevice is moved out of the traversing/changing position mentioned,whereby the connection is then released, in particular by disengagementof the positive-locking connection or removal or blocking of the slidingcontact.

For a particular embodiment of the drive mechanism, the drive mechanismhas a lever. The lever can be pivoted about a pivot axis. The pivot axisof the lever is orientated parallel with an axis of rotation of the coilto be wound. The lever (which may be constructed in a linear or curvedmanner) has lever portions at both sides of the pivot axis. The actuatoracts (directly or indirectly) on the first lever portion. The at leastone first roller is arranged on the second lever portion. Depending onthe geometry of the lever and length of the lever portions, a forcestep-up or a force step-down can be brought about and the drive movementfrom the actuator located at a remote location can be transferred to theat least one first roller: Also a redirection of the actuation directionof the actuator and the movement direction of the first roller(s) can bebrought about. There are various possibilities for acting on andcooperating with the first lever portion in order to bring about thedesired movement. For example, the actuator may be directly linked ormay be linked with another actuation element which is coupled with theactuator.

For a particular embodiment of the invention, a rotatable cam acts onthe first lever portion. Consequently, the pivoting of the lever iscaused by a sliding movement of the cam face of the rotatable camrelative to a counter-face of the first lever portion. Depending on thegeometry of the cam, different dependencies may be brought about betweena rotation of the cam relative to a rotation of the lever, wherebynon-linear characteristics can also be produced.

The cam can be driven in various manners. One embodiment of theinvention proposes that the cam is driven by a crank to which theactuator is linked.

It is possible for a drive movement, in particular via the cammentioned, to be only used for one single device for guidingand/expanding the winding material. For a particular proposal of theinvention, however, the cam is connected to another cam via a couplingshaft so that the cam and the additional cam are rotated together. Theadditional cam is used in another winding material expansion device orwinding material guide device in order to also bring about a movement ofat least one first roller of the additional winding material expansiondevice or winding material guide device.

For one embodiment the cam and the additional cam have the same camgeometry and the same cam angle, so that it is readily ensured via theconnection by the coupling shaft that a common and synchronous movementof the at least one first roller of the two winding material expansiondevices or winding material guide devices is carried out.

It is also possible for the actuator, the at least one cam, the couplingshaft and/or the crank to be articulated or secured to the traversingdevice in such a manner that they are moved with the traversing device.For an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the actuator, the at leastone cam, the coupling shaft and/or the crank is/are articulated orsecured to the machine frame or to a portion of the traversing devicesecured to the machine frame. This allows simplified control and supplyof power to the actuator. It further results in a reduction of the movedmass for producing the traversing movement. However, a guide carriage, abearing or the pivot bearing for the movement of the at least one rollercan be arranged on a structural element of the traversing device, whichstructural element is moved with the traversing device.

Another solution to the problem addressed by the invention is providedby a traversing device for a winding machine which has at least onedevice for guiding and/or expanding winding material of the typeexplained above.

Another solution to the problem addressed by the invention is providedby a winding machine which has at least one traversing device of theaforementioned type.

In principle, the winding machine may correspond to any constructiontype known per se. For one proposal according to the invention, thewinding machine is in the form of a turret winding machine. Two spindlesare rotatably retained on a turret. In an alternating fashion coils canbe wound on the spindles at a winding station. If, however, a coil whichis completely wound in the region of the winding station is moved to achanging station by rotating the turret, it is possible to remove thecompletely wound coil. Under some circumstances, a new sleeve is alsofitted to the spindle in the region of the changing station ifnecessary. It is possible for the winding material for the change to bemanually moved for the winding process on a spindle to a winding processon the other spindle, which may be carried out, for example, by means ofa suction gun. However, the change is preferably carried out in anautomatic manner. In this instance the movement of at least one firstroller of the winding material expansion device or winding materialguide device is also used to simplify the transfer of the windingmaterial during the changing process with a discharge from the windingmaterial expansion device or winding material guide device and there-introduction of the winding material.

For a particular embodiment according to the invention, the windingmachine comprises a changing device via which it is possible toautomatically move the winding material from a spindle with a completelywound coil to another spindle, a catch device for catching the windingmaterial during the changing process as described, for example, in EP 1525 150 B1, a separation device for separating the winding materialafter the changing process and/or a change-over thread guide via whichin the removal position of the at least one movable first roller thewinding material is removed from the winding material expansion deviceor winding material guide device.

Another solution to the problem addressed by the invention is providedby a method for operating a winding machine having a traversing device,as previously explained. The winding machine further has a turret andtwo spindles which are retained by the turret and which can be movedbetween a winding station and a changing station by a rotation of theturret. It is possible for a change-over thread guide also to beprovided in such a winding machine, which change-over thread guidesupplies the winding material at the end of a winding process of a coilon a spindle to the other spindle (or a sleeve arranged thereon). Thechange-over thread guide is also able to carry out removal from thewinding material expansion device or winding material guide deviceand/or introduction therein in an automatic manner during the changingaction.

The method according to the invention has the following method steps:

Firstly, a coil is wound in the region of a winding station. In thisinstance, the at least one movable first roller of the winding materialexpansion device or winding material guide device is in the windingposition in order to ensure the supply of the winding material in thedesired state of the winding material. If the coil is completely wound,the at least one movable first roller of the winding material expansiondevice or winding material guide device moves from the winding positioninto the removal and introduction position. Subsequently, the windingmaterial is removed from the winding material expansion device orwinding material guide device. This may occur before, during or afterthe initiation or implementation of the changing process, that is tosay, before, during or after the transfer of the winding material fromthe completely wound coil to the empty spindle. When the winding processbegins on the empty spindle, for the method according to the inventionthe winding material is (re-)introduced into the winding materialexpansion device or winding material guide device. In order to guaranteethe supply of the winding material in the desired state of the windingmaterial for the winding process now beginning, the at least one movablefirst roller of the winding material expansion device or windingmaterial guide device is moved from the removal and introductionposition into the winding position.

Advantageous developments of the invention result from the claims, thedescription and the drawings. The advantages of features and ofcombinations of a plurality of features mentioned at the beginning ofthe description only serve as examples and may be used alternatively orcumulatively without the necessity of embodiments according to theinvention having to obtain these advantages. Without changing the scopeof protection as defined by the enclosed claims, the following applieswith respect to the disclosure of the original application and thepatent: further features may be taken from the drawings, in particularfrom the illustrated designs and the dimensions of a plurality ofcomponents with respect to one another as well as from their relativearrangement and their operative connection. The combination of featuresof different embodiments of the invention or of features of differentclaims independent of the chosen references of the claims is alsopossible, and it is motivated herewith. This also relates to featureswhich are illustrated in separate drawings, or which are mentioned whendescribing them. These features may also be combined with features ofdifferent claims. Furthermore, it is possible that further embodimentsof the invention do not have the features mentioned in the claims.

The number of the features mentioned in the claims and in thedescription is to be understood to cover this exact number and a greaternumber than the mentioned number without having to explicitly use theadverb “at least”. For example, if an element is mentioned, this is tobe understood such that there is exactly one element or there are twoelements or more elements. Additional features may be added to thesefeatures, or these features may be the only features of the respectiveproduct.

The reference signs contained in the claims are not limiting the extentof the matter protected by the claims. Their sole function is to makethe claims easier to understand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained and described in greater detail below withreference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the Figures. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a winding machine having two windingmaterial expansion devices, the winding material expansion device beingin the first operating position or winding position.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the winding machine according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a detail III of the winding machine according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the winding machine according to FIG. 1, thewinding material expansion device being in the removal and/orintroduction position.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the winding machine according to FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a detail VI of the winding machine according to FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a side view of another embodiment of a winding machine.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the winding machine according to FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows a detail IX of the winding machine according to FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a method for operating a winding machineaccording to the invention having a turret and automatic changingprocess.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a side view of a winding machine 1 having a machine frame 2,in this instance in a viewing direction counter to the z-axis. A spindle3, on which two coils 4 a, 4 b are wound beside each other, optionallywith the interposition of a catch device and/or a sleeve beinginterposed, extends horizontally in the direction of the x axis. Windingmaterial 5 a, 5 b is continuously supplied to the coils 4 a, 4 b onparallel winding paths. The parallel winding paths of the windingmaterial 5 a, 5 b extend via

-   -   guide rollers 6 a, 6 b, which have in this instance a concave        surface contour and which are supported rotatably relative to        the machine frame 2 with an axis of rotation extending parallel        to the x axis,    -   traversing devices 7 a, 7 b, which carry out synchronous        traversing movements 8 a, 8 b parallel with an axis of rotation        9 of the coils 4 a, 4 b,    -   winding material expansion devices or winding material guide        devices 10 a, 10 b which are a component of the traversing        devices 7 a, 7 b (referred to below merely as “winding material        expansion device”) and    -   a pressing roller 11.

The additional structure of the traversing device 7 is not illustratedin the Figures. In this regard, reference is made to the known prior artfor the construction of traversing devices.

In the region of the winding material expansion devices 10 a, 10 b, thewinding material is conveyed in a conveying direction 12 a, 12 b whichis orientated parallel with the y axis in this instance. If, asillustrated in FIG. 1, in the viewing direction selected in FIG. 1, thewinding material 5 actually passes linearly through the winding materialexpansion device 10, the conveying direction 12 a, 12 b corresponds tothe orientation of the winding material in this view. However, if theorientation of the winding material 5 changes in the region of thewinding material expansion device 10 (for example as a result ofinclined rollers or non-cylindrical contours of the rollers) theconveying direction 12 describes the central or averaged orientation ofthe winding material 5 in the region of the winding material expansiondevices 10 a, 10 b.

The winding material expansion devices 10 each have two upper guiderollers 13, 14 (cf. FIGS. 2 and 3), between which a gap 15 of constantwidth is formed. The winding material 5 passes through the gap 15. Theouter lines of the guide rollers 13, 14 delimiting the gap 15 areorientated transversely relative to the longitudinal extension of thewinding material 5 and transversely relative to the conveying direction12 and the direction of the traversing movement 8. During the traversingmovement 8, a (slight) redirection is brought about in the region of theguide rollers 13, 14, whereby expansion of the winding material 5 can bebrought about or increased. In the event that the winding material 5travels through the guide roller 6 in an already expanded state, theextent of the expansion is rotated through 90° in the region of theguide rollers 13, 14. In this instance the guide rollers 13, 14 are ableto maintain or increase the magnitude of the expansion. Downstream ofthe guide rollers 13, 14 and the gap 15, the winding material expansiondevice 10 has rollers 16, 17, 18, 19. The axes of rotation of therollers 16, 17, 18, 19 are orientated for simplicity parallel with eachother and parallel with the x axis. The outer faces of the rollers 16,17, 18, 19 are of cylindrical form (without this necessarily being thecase). In this instance, the axes of rotation of the rollers 16, 17, 18,19 are arranged in a plane which is orientated parallel with the x-yplane. This is also not necessarily the case.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the winding material 5 adjoins the outer faceof the roller 16 downstream of the guide rollers 13, 14 in the region ofa 9 o'clock position and follows that outer surface in acounter-clockwise direction up to an approximately 6 o'clock positionwhere the winding material 5 is then supplied to the roller 17 at a 12o'clock position. From that position, the winding material 5 is woundaround the roller 17 in a clockwise direction as far as approximately a6 o'clock position, from which the winding material 5 reachesapproximately a 12 o'clock position of the roller 18. On the roller 18,the winding material 5 is wound around the outer face in acounter-clockwise direction up to a 6 o'clock position, where thewinding material 5 again disengages from the roller 18 and contacts theroller 19 in the region of a 12 o'clock position. Depending on thearrangement of the pressing roller 11, the winding material 5 can thenbe disengaged from the roller 19 at various positions (in FIG. 2,approximately in a half past four position). Consequently, for theembodiment illustrated the winding material 5 has three turning pointson the conveying path through the winding material expansion device 14.At the turning points the conveying changes from conveying in aclockwise direction to conveying in a counter-clockwise direction andvice versa. Those turning points are arranged in the region of theintermediate spaces 20, 21, 22 which are formed between adjacent pairsof rollers 16-17, 17-18 and 18-19. Accordingly, a meandering path isgiven by the rollers 16, 17, 18, 19 for the winding material. It can beseen in FIG. 3 that the intermediate spaces 20, 21, 22 may be selectedto be very small so that a compact construction of the winding materialexpansion device 10 is provided. It must simply be avoided that therollers 16-19 come into contact with each other or that the windingmaterial 5 becomes “jammed” between the rollers 16-19.

It can be seen (for example in the view according to FIG. 2) thatremoving the winding material from the winding material expansion device10 would be more difficult without the steps according to the inventiondescribed below, which is due to the small spacing of the rollers 16-19and the small extent of the intermediate spaces 20-22 in the directionof the y axis. The same applies to the introduction of the windingmaterial 5 between the rollers 16-19.

For this reason, the rollers 16, 18 do not have axes of rotation beingfixed to the traversing device 7. Instead, those rollers 16, 18 can bemoved or displaced according to the invention transversely to the axisof rotation thereof, which is brought about in this instance by apivoting movement. FIGS. 1 to 3 show the rollers 16 to 18 in a firstoperating position which is a winding position 23. However, the rollers16, 18 in FIGS. 4 to 6 are illustrated in a second operating positionwhich is a removal and/or introduction position 24. To that end, therollers 16, 18 and the axes of rotation thereof can be pivoted about apivot axis 25. According to FIG. 4, the rollers 16, 18 are pivoted by apivot angle of 90° (but different pivot angles also being possible). Inthe removal and/or introduction position 24, the rollers 16, 18 are outof contact with the winding material 5 so that the winding material 5conveyed from the guiding rollers 13, 14 directly reaches the roller 17,where a redirection in the clockwise direction can then be carried outto a reduced extent. From the roller 17, the winding material in anapproximately 3 o'clock position then reaches a 3 o'clock position ofthe roller 13 with conveying approximately in a conveying direction 12.From the roller 19, the winding material then reaches the pressingroller 11. It can be seen particularly in FIG. 4 that the removal of thewinding material 5 from the winding material expansion device 10 isreadily possible. For this purpose, for example, the winding material 5can be removed vertically relative to the plane of the drawing accordingto FIG. 4 from the rollers 17, 19 and from the gap 15 between the guiderollers 13, 14. This corresponding applies to the introduction of thewinding material into the winding material expansion device 10. Afterthe winding material has been introduced, as illustrated in FIG. 4, therollers 16, 18 can be pivoted back out of the removal and/orintroduction position 24 according to FIGS. 4 to 6 into the windingposition 23 according to FIGS. 1 to 3. With the reverse pivotingmovement of the rollers 16, 18, those rollers 16, 18 come into contactwith the winding material 5 and “press” the winding material 5 into theintermediate spaces between the rollers 17, 19, whose axes of rotationare fixed relative to the traversing device 7 until the state accordingto FIGS. 1 to 3 is reproduced.

The movable rollers 16, 18 are here also named “first rollers” whereasthe fixed rollers 17, 19 are also named “second rollers”.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show an alternative embodiment of a winding machine 1, forwhich in part the same reference numerals have been used as for theembodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 6, if the structural elementsindicated with that reference numeral have the same function, serve thesame purpose or are constructed similarly. For this embodiment, thewinding machine 1 is formed with a turret 26, on which two spindles 3 a,3 b are retained in opposite positions. For the operating stateaccording to FIG. 8, the spindle 3 a is in a winding station 27. In theregion of the winding station 27 a coil can be wound whilst the spindle3 b is in the region of a changing station 28. At the changing station28 it is possible to remove a completely wound coil from the spindle 3 band the spindle 3 b can be prepared for a subsequent winding process, inparticular by a sleeve being fitted thereon. By rotating the turret 26,the spindles 3 a, 3 b can in an alternating fashion be moved into theregion of the winding station 27 and the region of the changing station28.

As can be seen particularly in FIG. 9, additional guide rollers 29, 30are provided in addition to the guide rollers 13, 14 in the windingmaterial expansion device 10. The axes of rotation of the guide rollers29, 30 form an acute angle relative to the axes of rotation of the guiderollers 13, 14 in a horizontal plane. Furthermore, in this instance thewinding material expansion device 10 only comprises the rollers 17, 19(building “second rollers” in the sense of the present invention) withan axis of rotation fixed in relation to the traversing device 7 and theroller 18 (building the only “first roller” in the sense of the presentinvention) whose axis of rotation can be moved relative to thetraversing device 7. Here the additional roller 16 with a movable axisof rotation is not present.

For this embodiment the degree of freedom of movement of the roller 18is provided in a manner different from the one in accordance with FIGS.1 to 6. In at least one end region, the roller 18 is supported rotatablyon a lever portion 31 of a lever 32. The lever 32 is supported pivotablyabout a pivot axis 33 having an orientation parallel with the axis ofrotation of the coil 4 and transversely relative to the conveyingdirection 12 of the winding material 5. The pivot movement of the lever32 about the pivot axis 33 (and therefore the movement of the roller 18)is brought about by indirect actuation of the other lever portion 34 ofthe lever 32 by an actuator 35 as follows.

A drive mechanism 36 is arranged between the lever portion 34 and theactuator 35. the drive mechanism 36 is used to transmit the positioningmovement and positioning forces of the actuator 35 to the lever portion34. The drive mechanism 36 is here formed with a crank 38 which issupported pivotably about a pivot axis 37. An actuation rod 39 is linkedwith the end region of the crank 38 facing away from the pivot axis 37.If the actuator 35 is a pneumatic positioning cylinder, the actuationrod 39 may be formed directly by the piston rod. A cam 40 (which isconsequently also pivotable about the pivot axis 37 upon activation bythe actuator 35) is connected to the crank 38 in a rotationally fixedmanner. That connection is preferably brought about by a coupling shaft42 which is orientated parallel with the axis of rotation of the coil. Acam face 41 of the cam 40 rolls on an associated counter-face of thelever portion 34, whereby pivoting of the lever 32 can be caused. FIGS.7 to 9 show the roller 18 in the removal and/or introduction position24. The winding position 23 (which is not illustrated in the Figures) isbrought about by actuating the actuator 35, pivoting the crank 38 andthe cam 40 about the pivot axis 37 and by pivoting the lever 32 aboutthe pivot axis 33.

For the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 (as may be seen in FIG.7) the actuation rod 39 is linked with a coupling shaft 42 which extendsparallel with the axis of rotation of the coils 4 and which carries cams40 a, 40 b in a rotationally fixed manner. For this embodiment, theactuator 35 and the coupling shaft 42 are supported on the machine frame2 in a manner fixed in position, so that the cams 40 a, 40 b also have afixed position in the direction of the traversing movement 8. Thatposition of the cams 40 a, 40 b is selected in a manner such that thelever 32 with its counter-face being moved with the traversing movementis not able to move into engagement with the cam face 41 of the cams 40a, 40 b during the normal winding process. Consequently, the actuator 35and the drive mechanism 36 are without effect during the windingprocess—the drive mechanism is released owing to lack of contact betweenthe cams 40 a, 40 b and the lever 32. If, however, the roller 18 isintended to be moved, the traversing device 7 is controlled in such amanner that a traversing movement 8 is brought about into a traversingposition, in which the cams 40 a, 40 b move into engagement with theassociated levers 32. It is possible for that traversing position alsopassed during the traversing process during the winding process, forexample when using of a reversing threaded shaft for producing thetraversing movement. Contact between the cam 40 and lever 32 is thenprevented by a suitable positioning angle of the cam 40. That traversingposition is then preferably located in an end region of the traversingmovement. However, it is also possible for that traversing position tobe outside the movement range during the winding action. Consequently, awinding position 23 can be selectively maintained. However, also achange of the operating position of the winding material expansiondevice 10 (in particular from the winding position 23 into the removaland/or introduction position 24 or vice versa) may also be selectivelybrought about by controlling the traversing device 7 and the actuator35.

For the embodiments illustrated, the axes of rotation of the rollers areall orientated horizontally (without this necessarily having to be thecase). Unlike the embodiments illustrated, the rollers may also becylindrical, convex, concave or conical, or any different surfacecontour.

Owing to the provision of the option of moving the rollers, the threadcan be removed automatically from the traversing device 7 (here from thewinding material expansion device 10) in winding machines 1 with achanging device (as described for example in European Patent ApplicationEP 1525150A1) with one or more simultaneously wound packages in order tobring about the changing process. Subsequently the thread can besupplied to those devices again. These actions can be carried outautomatically.

A method for operating a winding machine 1 of this type with a turret 26and automated changing device can be as follows, cf. FIG. 10.

Firstly, in a method step 44 the winding material 5 is wound to form acoil 4 (or in parallel winding paths to form a plurality of coils). Forsimplicity, only the winding process of coils in an alternating fashionon two spindles 3 a, 3 b of a turret 26 is explained below. During thewinding process, the winding material 5 is introduced into the windingmaterial expansion device 10 which is in its winding position 23. Thewinding material 5 is wound in a traversing manner by means of thetraversing device 7. A change-over thread guide is in a park position.In a method step 45, the coil 4 a is completely wound. This may bedetected if the desired quantity of winding material 5 is taken up,which can be detected by a suitable measurement technique. In a methodstep 46, the turret 26 is now rotated by a rotation 43. During thisrotation 43 of the turret 26, the winding material is further traversedand deposited on the completely wound coil 4 a. However, an empty coil 4b (optionally with a sleeve arranged thereon) is now located in thewinding station 25.

In the method step 47, the actuator 35 is activated, whereby a movementof the rollers 16, 18 is brought about and the winding materialexpansion device 10 is moved from the winding position 23 into theremoval and/or introduction position 24. The winding material expansiondevice 10 and the winding material 5 still arranged therein are movedinto the region of the change-over thread guide so that the windingmaterial 5 can be gripped thereby. At this time, the winding material 5is only in loose contact with the rollers 16, 17, 18, 19 of the windingmaterial expansion device 10 or without any contact and not being woundaround these rollers 16, 17, 18, 19. In this instance, the windingmaterial 5 is still guided by the traversing rollers.

In the subsequent method step 48, the winding material 5 is removed fromthe winding material expansion device 10 and the winding material 5 iscaught on the empty spindle 4 b (cf. e.g. EP 1 525 150 B1). To that end,the change-over thread guide is moved into the changing position 24. Thewinding material 5 is moved by the change-over thread guide into aposition which is suitable for the winding material 5 to be able to becaught by the catch device associated with the spindle, whereby thewinding material 5 can be retained on an empty sleeve. To that end, thetraversing device 7 is in a traversing position which makes it possiblefor the winding material 7 to be removed by the change-over threadguide.

In a method step 49, the winding material 5 is severed. By the windingmaterial 5 being retained on the empty sleeve and the full, completelywound coil 4 a being further rotated, the tension in the windingmaterial 5 between the completely wound coil 4 a and the empty coil 4 bis increased which results in the breakage of the winding material 5 inthat region. Suitable cutting devices which can bring about a breakageeven at a low level of tension in the winding material 5 can further beprovided.

In a method step 50, the winding material 5 is placed back into thewinding material expansion device 10. The change-over thread guide ismoved into a park position. By the change-over thread guide being moved,the winding material 5 is again placed movably in the winding materialexpansion device 10. The fixed rollers 17, 19 are either not touched orare only touched movably and without any wrapping action by the windingmaterial 5. To this end, the winding material expansion device 10 is inthe removal and introduction position 24 which makes it possible tointroduce the winding material by means of the change-over thread guide.

In a method step 51, the movable roller 18 moves from the removal and/orintroduction position 24 into the winding position 23.

In the subsequent method step 52, the empty coil 4 b in the windingstation 27 is now wound with operation of the traversing device 7. Atthe same time, the completely wound coil 4 a in the changing station 28is removed and the empty spindle 3 a is provided with a new sleeve.

1. A device for a winding machine for a winding material in the form ofa bundle of fibres, the device having a first roller and a secondroller, said first roller and second roller being arranged for guidingthe winding material along a meandering path, wherein the first rolleris displaceable between a) a first operating position, wherein in thefirst operating position the winding material is guided along saidmeandering path, and b) a second operating position, wherein in thesecond operating position a distance of the first roller from the secondroller is larger than the distance of the first roller from the secondroller in the first operating position, c) wherein the first operatingposition is a winding position and the second operating position is atleast one position of the group of positions consisting of: a removalposition for the winding material and a introduction position for thewinding material.
 2. The device according to claim 1 with an actuatorfor causing the movement of the first roller between the first operatingposition and the second operating position.
 3. The device according toclaim 2, wherein the actuator is a pneumatic actuating cylinder.
 4. Thedevice according to claim 2, wherein the actuator is built with a turretof the winding machine.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein themovement of the first roller is a movement around a pivot axis.
 6. Thedevice according to claim 5, wherein the pivot axis has an orientationtransverse to a conveying direction of the winding material.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 5, wherein the pivot axis has an orientationparallel to a conveying direction of the winding material.
 8. The deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein a drive mechanism is connected between theactuator and the first roller.
 9. The device according to claim 4,wherein a drive mechanism is connected between the actuator and thefirst roller.
 10. The device according to claim 8, wherein theconnection of the drive mechanism between the actuator and the firstroller is releasable.
 11. The device according to claim 9, wherein theconnection of the drive mechanism between the actuator and the firstroller is releasable.
 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein therelease of the drive mechanism is controlled by a movement.
 13. Thedevice according to claim 8, wherein the drive mechanism is built with alever which is pivoted about a pivot axis which has an orientationparallel to an axis of rotation of the coil to be wound, wherein theactuator acts on a first lever portion and the first roller is arrangedon a second lever portion.
 14. The device according to claim 13comprising a rotatable cam acting on the first lever portion.
 15. Thedevice according to claim 14, wherein the actuator is linked with acrank wherein the crank drives the cam.
 16. The device according toclaim 14, wherein the cam is connected with a coupling shaft foractuating another cam causing a movement of a first roller of anadjacent device.
 17. The device according to claim 15, wherein the camis connected with a coupling shaft for actuating another cam causing amovement of a first roller of an adjacent device.
 18. The deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein at least one element of the group ofelements consisting of the actuator, the cam, the coupling shaft and thecrank is mounted with the machine frame.
 19. A traversing device for awinding machine comprising at least one device according to claim
 1. 20.A Winding machine having at least one traversing device according toclaim
 19. 21. The winding machine according to claim 20 comprising atleast one turret rotatably retaining two spindles, wherein in analternating fashion a) a coil is wound in a winding station and b) acompletely wound coil is removed in a changing station.
 22. The windingmachine according to claim 21, wherein the winding machine comprises atleast one device of the group of devices consisting of: a) a changingdevice moving the winding material automatically from a spindle with acompletely wound coil located thereon to the other spindle, b) a catchdevice for catching the winding material during the changing process, c)a separation device for separating the winding material after thechanging process and d) a change-over thread guide for removing thewinding material in the removal position of the first roller fromdevice.
 23. Method for operating a winding machine comprising atraversing device according to claim 19, a turret and two spindleswherein the spindles are rotated by the turret between a winding stationand a changing station, the method comprising the following steps: a)winding a coil at the winding station while the first roller is in thewinding position, b) moving the first roller from the winding positioninto the removal position, c) removing the winding material from thedevice, d) transferring the winding material to an empty spindle, e)introducing the winding material into the device and f) moving the firstroller from the removal position into the winding position.